Eddie Mekka, the actor who played Carmine Ragusa on the ABC sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” died on Nov. 27 at his home in Newhall, California.
Mekka was 69-years-old. No cause of death was given, according to Forbes.
“The Big Ragoo” was born in Worcester Massachusetts on June 14, 1952 and before he was a boxer on TV, he headed the Worcester County Light Opera. Mekka rose to fame performing in the 1975 Broadway musical, “The Lieutenant,” for which he won a Tony Award.
What he is known best for, though, is his work on the “Happy Days” spin-off, “Laverne & Shirley” as the romantic interest of Shirley (Cindy Williams). The sitcom, which ran until 1983, finished its first week as the top-rated program in all of primetime, according to Forbes.
Later in his career, Mekka became known for roles in “Dreamgirls” and “A League of Their Own,” according to IMDb.
Mekka is survived by his wife, Yvonne Marie Grace and his daughter, Mia.
Cindy Williams and Michael McKean (Lenny) are the only surviving cast members from “Laverne & Shirley,” according to Forbes.
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